A Hobbyist DECnet Network

[Robert Armstrong]

> As to doing ove the internet, DSL, 

  DSL?  What's DSL?  You don't mean the phone line, DSL ?

>and floating addresses are a problem.

  If you mean DECnet addresses, then yes, we'd have to have some
coordination of the addresses used.  WE can just assign people a block of
addresses; I doubt that we'll have enough members for it to be a real
management problem.

> There used to be a TOAD on the net (DEC system20 or 
> somesuch), Is it still?

  As it happens I know a guy with an XKL machine in his apartment that might
be willing to connect.  Don't know if we're talking about the same person.

> More money that I can devote right now (power too).  But 
> interesting to follow and maybe later..

  What's the money required?  If you already have a VAX then you're set.
Power is an expense, of course, but you don't have to leave your node up
24x7.

>Actually a MicroVAX2000 with a RD54 is enough for routing if you can 
> shoehorn the OS and enough ram in it.  Routing is not a high 
> cpu usage problem.

  Yeah, but a 4000/VLC takes less power, less space, and boots lots (lots!!)
faster.  It's the lowest power budget (and therefore cheapest to operate
24x7) VAX I know of.

  [The first "personal" VAX I ever owned was a VS2000, around 1989/1990.  I
used to come home, turn it on, and I could make dinner while I waited for it
to boot and start DECwindows!]

Bob